Article conveyer system



Aug. 11', 1931. c.- qA'cuAR'r I Ana-101.5 CONVBYER SYSTEM Fued July 10, 1 29 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

Zia. ATTORNEY Aug. 11,1931. c. E. JACQUART ARTICLE CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed July 10, 1929 3 sheets-Shget 2 i 1 l 1 I I I g d INVENTOR ggwrzrja wz ATTORNEY Aug. 11, 193 1.

C. E. JACQUART ARTICLE CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed July 10. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Z13 ATTOR NEY Patented Aug. 11,1931

UNITED STATES: PATENT OFFICE CHARLES EDWARD JACQUAR-T, OF SOUTH RIVER, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERI- CAN ENAMELED BRICK CORPORATION, OF NEVI YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 01, i

NEW YORK Application filed July 10, 1929.

This invention relates to article conveyer systems, and more particularly to a system of transport or conveyance for commodities to be treated or processed in truck load lots, the primary object and purpose of the invention being to provide a conveyer system, the component parts of which are so arranged with respect to each other and relative to the processing apparatus that the loaded trucks may be expeditiously handled and continuously moved through and discharged from the apparatus and the empty trucks returned to loading position.

It is a more particular object of my invention to provide a conveyer systemof this kind specially designed for application and use in connection with a brick kiln in which the kiln chamber is designed to receive trucks carrying the brick loads to the full capacity of the kiln, said loaded trucks being continuously moved through said chamber and during which movement the bricks are properly fired or baked. It is evident that in a continuous kiln of this kind, in order to prevent interruption in the movement of the brick trucks through the kiln, as each truck load of brick is discharged from the kiln, a truck load of brick to be fired must be added to the other end of the truck line at the charging end of the kiln chamber. The present system provides a' simple and economical means whereby the empty trucks may be easily loaded with the bricks, and said loaded trucks readily transferred from the loading station into the end of the kiln chamber.

he system also provides storage tracks upon which the brick receiving trucks may be stored and moved between spaced transfer tracks upon which suitable transfer trucks are mounted to receive the brick car rying trucks and whereby the latter may be,

Serial No. 377,097.

trucks without breakage or damage tothe enameled surfaces.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved conveyer system and in the several novel fea tures thereof as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, wherein I have illustrated one simple and practical embodiment of the invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figures 1 and l represent a plan view showinginy improved conveyer system as used in connection with a horizontal continuous type of brick kiln;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner of charging the loaded brick trucks into thekiln chamber with respect to the operation of the ram or plunger which moves the loaded trucks in said chamber;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the loading I station;

Fig. 4 is a sectional perspective view showing one of' the transfer trucks in dotted lines position with respect to the loadingstation track for movement of the brick receiving truck upon the latter; v

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of one type of kiln showing one of trucks therein;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the kiln, and

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional perspective view of parts of the kiln.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one application of the present invention for the purpose of handling and transporting enameled brick in the process of manufacture during which they are continuously passed through a horizontally elongated kiln chamber and therein subjected for the requisite length of time to the desired baking or firing temperatures.

the loaded However, it will be understood as the description proceeds that the essential features of the present disclosure are also adaptable to use for the expeditious transport or conveyance of other commodities which may be subjected to other treatments or proc esses to secure the desired predetermined result or condition.

The kiln as shown in the drawings constitutes no essential. part of my invention. However, I have found that in the treatment of terra cotta enameled brick, it is desirable to use a horizontally elongated kiln structure as indicated at 5 having a chamber of considerable length within which preheating, high temperature and cooling zones respectively may be main tained. As shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, this kiln is provided 'ith parallel track rails 6 extending entirely through the kiln chamber and projecting beyond its egress or outlet end. Above these track rails, parts of the kiln structure are provided with longitudinally extending guide ribs 7 which are loosely received in channels 8 on opposite sides of a suitable platform 9 of the brick conveying truck 10 and upon which the brick are adapted to be piled or stacked. In order to utilize the full capacity of the kiln chamber, each truck carries the max imum capacity of brick so that the top of the brick stack but slightly below the crown of the kiln chamber.

In the intermediate or high. temperature section of the kiln a suitable arrangement of burners is provided as indicated by the lines numbered 1 to 5 in Fig. 1 of the drawings whereby in this part of the kiln chamber a uniformly high temperature may be maintained. Below the ribs 7 which guide the brick conveying truck in its travel through this part of the kiln chamber, and at each side of the track a suitable arrangement of pipes 11 may be provided through which a cooling medium is circulated in order to protect the truck frame against the effects of the intense heat. In the end portion of the kiln through which. the loaded. brick trucks first move before entering the high temperature zone, a relatively lower temperature is maintained so that after the cold brick are charged into the kiln chamber, they will be gradually heated before passing into and through the high temperature zone. After leaving this high t'ein perature zone of the kiln chamber, the loaded trucks then pass through an unheated zone so that the temperature of the bricks thereon will gradually decrease until they finally leave the kiln chamber where they are subjected to thecooling efl'ects of the external atmosphere. 1

At the .charging end of the kiln chamber a rain or plunger shown at 12 is arranged and may be operated by any suitable means so as to cause said ram to move at a very slow rate of speed in one direction against the end truck in the kiln so as to cause all of the trucks throughout the length of the kiln to partake of such movement, and after completing this slow movement substan tially equivalent in length to the length of one truck, the said ram is then moved very rapidly in the opposite direction so that a new truck load of brick may be charged into the kiln chamber and the movement of the truck line thus continued upon the succeeding reverse movement of the ram. In this manner, it will be understood that there is practically a continuous travel of the loaded trucks in end to end contact with each other throughout the length of the kiln chamber and as one truck load of finished brick is discharged from said chamber, another truck load of brick to be fired enters said chamber at the opposite end thereof.

In order to facilitate the handling of these loaded brick trucks and to insure an adequate reserve of such trucks so that the kiln may be kept loaded to full capacity at all times, I have devised the system of conveyance particularly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Referring to this figure, in laterally spaced relation to the charging end of the kiln and extending at right angles to the length of said kiln there is provided a transfer track indicated at 13 which is laid below the general ground level and upon this track a transfer truck 1 1- is mounted to receive the brick trucks 10 from the track 11 which runs parallel to the kiln 5 and is spaced from one side thereof. At the opposite side of the kiln, a short transfer track 15 similar to the track 13 and extending parallel therewith leads into the charging end of the kiln 5 and is likewise laid below the ground surface. In spaced relation to this latter side of the kiln, a reserve track 16 is laid on the ground surface upon which additional brick trucks 10 may be kept in reserve and extends from the transfer track 15 to a transfer track 17 spaced from the egress or outlet end of the kiln and with which transfer track the kiln track 6 also connects as well as the storage track 11.

Between the transfer tracks 13 and 15 a length of track 18 is laid on the ground surface and as shown is adapted to receive six of the brick trucks 10. This is the loading station, at which point the bricks are loaded upon the trucks. A transfer truck is also arranged on each of the tracks 15 and 17, said trucks being similar to the truck 14. Each of these transfer trucks is provided with track rails on its platform which extend at right angles to the respective tracks upon which said trucks are mounted. I may also provide the additional track shown at 19 extending parallel to the track 18 and connecting with theitransfer'tracks 13 and 15 to receive other reserve brick transport ing trucks.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, there are arranged at opposite sides of the loading track 18 and extending across the transfer track 13 parallel endless conveyers 20, said conveyers being at such elevation that they will permit of the unloaded brick trucks passing beneath the same. In addition to these conveyers 20, a third conveyer 21 is arranged centrally therebetween and projects beyond one end of the conveyers 20, all of said conveyers being synchronously operated and the upper stretches thereof moving in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. At the right hand end of the conveyer 21 and between the same and the conveyers 20- suita'ble tanks indicated at 22 are positioned.

At the same end of the conveyer 21, suitable spraying apparatus (not shown) is arranged whereby the desired surface of the brick are sprayed with an enamel solution. After the bricks placed upon the conveyer 21 have been moved to a position opposite the tanks 22, where they are sprayed with an enamel solution, the bricks are then carried by the conveyer to a position in contact with suitable brushes (not shown), where the surplus enamel is removed. After brushing they are placed on conveyers 20 and are conveyed to positions opposite the line of trucks on track 18. The bricks may thus be readily -removed from conveyers and properly loaded upon trucks 10.

As the loaded brick trucks. arev being moved through the kiln chamber, the truck on the track 15is moved into position with its platform rails in line with the rails 18 and the end truck on these rails loaded with the brick is moved upon the transfer truck and the latterthen moved to the charging entrance of thekiln chamber together with the loaded. truck mounted thereon. Immediately upon the outward'mo'vement of the ram 12 the transfer truck and the loaded brick truck is moved into the end of the kiln chamber so that the loaded truck. is posiitionedin line with the other loaded brick trucks in said chamber. Therefore, on the next inward movement of the ram 12, the loaded brick truck will be moved'off of the rails of transfer truck 14, and the latter may then be withdrawn from the charging end and one of the trucksindicated at C having been moved from'the track 18 upon the transfer truck on the track 15 while the loaded brick trucks within the kiln chamber on the track 6 are indicated at D, the ram 12 being shown at the start of its inward movement. At a laterstage in the operation, this ram has moved to the right and has slowly moved the loaded line of brick trucks in the kiln chamber along the track 6 while the transfer truck on the rails 13' has been moved to position the loaded brick truck thereon in line with the-track 18 and the truck load of brick shown at'C has been moved nearer to. the charging entrance of the kiln. In the succeeding step of the operation, the latter truck has been moved within the entrance to the kiln while the ram 12 has continued its operative movement to cause the line of brick trucks C to progress through the kiln chamber. In the next step of the operation, the ram 12 has been with drawn andthe loaded truck C has been moved into line with the brick'trucks D in' the kiln chamber while the truck A has been moved upon the track 18 and one of the loaded trucks B at the right hand end of the line has been moved upon the transfer truck on the track 15.

As each truck load of bricks after treatment in the kiln is discharged from the right hand end of the kiln chamber, it is received upon a transfer truck 23 having its. rails aligned with the rail 6 and mounted to travel on the track 17. This truck is then moved along the track to position the wheels of the loaded brick truck in line with the rails of the storage track 11 upon which the truck load of finished brick can then be moved. From these trucks the bricks can be removed and packed in. motor trucks for transportation, or placed in storage. The empty trucks on the track 11 may then be moved along the track and positioned upon the transfer truck 14 on the track 18 for movement to the loading station on the track 18. p I

By the use of a transportation or convey ing system as above described, it will be seen that the operation of loading the bricks into the kiln chamber for continuous movement therethrough may be carried on with. the kiln chamber at all times utilized to its full capacity. It will. be understood that brickfiringkilns of this kind are in continuous operation night and day, since in order to enable the product to be produced at reasonable manufacturing cost, the kiln can never be permitted to cool down, as the fuel consumption in the raising of the kiln chamber temperature to the high degree nee essary, is a major element of the manufacturing expense. It willalso be apparent that my new system permits the loaded bricktrucks to be moved from place to place with facilitates the operation of charging the kiln and removing the finished brick therefrom.

I have herein shown and described one desirable arrangement of the several trackways upon which the brick trucks are transported from place to place and a preferred arrangement of several conveyers at the loading station. It is however, to be understood that these features may be variously modified, and different arrangements thereof resorted to as may be found most desirable in connection with the particular article and process of manufacture in connec tion with which the invention may be used. Accordingly, it is to be understood that in practice I reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes in the essential features of the present disclosure as may be fairly embodied in the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with a brick firin g kiln having a horizontally elongated chamber provided with a track extending therethrough between a charging entrance at one end of said chamber and beyond the opposite egress end thereof and means for continuously moving a. line of brick carrying trucks upon said track through the kiln chamber; a loading station for the brick carrying trucks including a track to receive a plurality of the trucks and transfer tracks at the opposite ends of said receiving track extending at right angles thereto, endless brick conveyers at each side of said truck receiving track extending in parallel relation thereto and from which the brick are adapted to be removed and loaded upon the trucks positioned upon said receiving track, each of the latter tracks having a transfer truck thereon to receive the brick carrying trucks, and one of said transfer tracks extending from the truck receiving track into the charging entrance of the kiln whereby the loaded brick carrying trucks may be positioned upon the transfer truck on said track and successively positioned at one end of the line of trucks in the kiln chamber, as the loaded trucks therein are successively discharged from said chamber, and a track connected with the other of said transfer tracks for the return of empty brick carrying trucks to the loading station.

2. In combination with a brick firing kiln having a horizontally elongated chamber provided with a track extending therethrough between a charging entrance at one end of said chamber and beyond the opposite egress end thereof and means for continuously moving a line of brick carrying trucks upon said track through the kiln chamber; a loading station for the brick carrying trucks including a track to receive a plurality of the trucks and transfer tracks at the opposite ends of said receiving track extending at right angles thereto, endless brick conveyers arranged at each side of said truck receiving track in parallel relation thereto and extending above the return transfer track leading to said receiving track, a third brick conveyer positioned between the latter ends of said first named conveyers, and solution containing tanks arranged adjacent the conveyers, the bricks on the latter conveyer being coated with the solution in said tank and then delivered by said first named conveyers to position for removal therefrom and loading upon the truck on said receiving track, each of the latter tracks having a transfer truck thereon to receive the brick carrying trucks, and one of said transfer tracks extending from the truck receiving track into the charging entrance of the kiln whereby the loaded brick carrying trucks may be positioned upon the transfer truck on said track and successively positioned at one end of the line of trucks in the kiln chamber, as the loaded trucks therein are successively discharged from said chamber, and a track connected with the other of said transfer tracks for the return of empty brick carrying trucks to the loading station.

3. In a charging system for continuous kilns, a loading station for article-carrying trucks including a track to receive a plurality of trucks and additional tracks ex tending to and from the first named track, one of said additional tracks leading to the charging entrance of the kiln, and endless article conveyers extending across the other of said additional tracks above the same and in parallel relation to the first named track at each side thereof, and from which the articles are adapted to be removed and loaded upon the trucks on the latter track.

f. In a charging system for continuous kilns, a loading station for article-carrying trucks including a track to receive a plurality of trucks and additional tracks extending to and from the first named track, one of said additional tracks leading to the charging entrance of the kiln, endless article conveyers extending across the other of said additional tracks above the same and in parallel relation to the first named track at each side thereof, and from which the articles are adapted to be removed and loaded upon the trucks on the latter track, an additional endless conveyer centrally posi tioned between said first named conveyers at one end thereof, and extending beyond the latter, and means associated with the said conveyers for applying an enamel solution to the surfaces of the articles prior to their transference from said additional conveyer to the first named conveyers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

CHARLES EDIVARD 'JACQUART. 

